//------------------------------// // Chapter II // Story: A Healthy Friendship // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// “So what else is there around here?” We both looked at Somnambula as I gave a shrug. I honestly didn’t really know myself with how often I travelled around Equestria to book signings. Twilight Velvet is a surprisingly nice “agent” as they call it now. “Uh not much really other than walking,” Meadowbrook admitted as she glanced at me. "Stygian?” “Yes?” “You have syrup on your face still,” Meadowbrook answered as Somnambula snorted and I turned red faintly. “Hold on, anypony got a washcloth?” I jumped slightly as she shouted probably louder than I’ve ever heard her speak. I turned redder and tried to hide behind Somnambula. “Don’t yell out my problem, they’re gonna laugh at me!” I hissed out as Somnambula pulled me forward with a wing. “Have confidence dear Stygian. Nopony will laugh at you,” Somnambula reassured me as she grinned. “Mind you, I’m not laughing at you but merely with you.” “Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled as a blue stallion stepped forward with a wash cloth and snickered as he glanced at me. Meadowbrook made an angry sound and slammed a hoof on the ground as she stood in front of me. I gulped when this happened. I didn’t think she ever got angry until now apparently. “Thank you sir,” Meadowbrook grumbled as she took the wash cloth and hoofed to Somnambula. “I can do it myself, I’m not a foal Somnambula,” I protested as she wiped my face with a grin and I sighed in defeat. Win some and you lose some. “Uhm thanks. Now can we please go before more ponies decide to laugh at me being treated like a colt again?” “Yeah we can,” Somnambula snickered as she tossed the washcloth to the stallion. “Thanks for that and I doubt you should laugh at him for a mistake that I’m pretty certain everypony makes, even you.” I looked up as he walked backwards into a small house before nodding at me and shut the door. “Now come,” Somnambula pushed me toward a path where Meadowbrook stood patiently. “She’s been talking about going here with me for ages and now I have somepony else to drag along. Flash is always busy, Starswirl doesn’t wish to come along. Something about being too old and Mistmane is busy with her own garden sadly.” “What about Rockhoof?” “He’s busy at Twilight’s school telling his stories to the ponies and other creatures that attend,” Meadowbrook answered as I nodded. “Ah yes he visited me during that whole thing,” I waved a hoof as Somnambula smirked. “Same here. He fell asleep during my meditation class. He can snore let me tell you,” Somnambula commented as we both laughed. “That he can,” I agreed and shifted on my hooves as I examined a flower. “He used to keep me awake whenever I slept outside during our journeys.” The two paused and frowned at me slightly as I gulped. It was pretty much common knowledge that whenever we stopped to sleep in caves, I usually slept outside near the mouth of the cave. “I still disagree with you doing that,” Meadowbrook sighed as she stared at the sun. “Same,” Somnambula chimed in. “Equestria was more untamed back then than it is now. But even in this age, it is still dangerous. Especially in the “Everfree Forest” as ponies call it.” “Enough talking and more observing nature. Nature is supposed to be enjoyed with peace and quiet,” Meadowbrook said casually as we both shrugged. I suppose she had a point there. “Never doing that again,” I groaned as I flopped onto the ground outside my house as the other two chuckled. I was admittedly way more out of shape than I originally realized. “Oh it wasn’t that bad,” Somnambula commented as she stretched her wings and cracked her neck as I gave her a flat look. ““I got hit in the face three times with a tree branch,” I said flatly as she nodded with a smirk. “I still think you knew that was going to happen. You have a weird sense of humor.” “Pinkie has been rubbing off on me. She is a intriguing mare,” Somnambula admitted as I yawned. “Tired?” “We’ve been walking in the swamp and the woods nearby for eight hours. Yes I am tired but it will pass. I’ll just take a nap or whatever,” I answered as I forced myself to stand up. "Thanks for today I suppose. It was rather nice to get out instead of staying indoors all day like I planned.” “If you want more company later, my clinic is always available to you. I could use the help some days,” Meadowbrook said and tossed me a bottle of water. “It’s always busy. Ponies some how found insane ways to hurt themselves. I had a small pegasus filly in the other day trying to find something to make her wings work. Kinda depressing really when she found out I had nothing for that. But maybe one day I will.” “If anypony will it’s you,” Somnambula reassured her as I nodded briefly before drinking gratefully from the bottle. “You and Cattail are the best ponies I know at medicine.” “Thanks. Still slightly depressing knowing only one of my relatives is still alive. There used to be hundreds of us and now there’s only two. I can’t imagine how you two must feel,” Meadowbrook glanced at us as I looked down. I hadn’t really tried finding any relatives of mine. I presumed they all died and it’s not like I had kids anyway to continue my line. “Prince Hisan’s death was tragic but it’s life. We all live and die,” Somnambula answered. “Could be worse.” “How could it be worse than death?” I asked as she smirked. “There could still be a Sphinx around. Apparently she disappeared shortly after we did.” I suppose she had a point there. “I should probably go sleep it’s, the sun is setting,” I pointed a hoof at the pink sky. “If you need a place to sleep, I suppose my house has enough room Somnambula.” “Works for me. I’ve never been inside your house yet. Meadowbrook?” “I have to go close the clinic for the night,” Meadowbrook answered as she looked at us both. “Sleep well. Come by tomorrow and you can help me out a bit.” I gave a nod as she hugged us both before trotting away. I can’t even remember the last time I was hugged. “You know, you should take her up on that offer,” Somnambula commented as she placed a wing on my back. “And she isn’t that bad looking either.” “What do you mean?” “Stallions,” Somnambula muttered and shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll follow you, it’s your house after all.” “Okay,” I said and turned to my door, pushing it open as she followed me, the door shutting gently behind her. “Very nice,” Somnambula commented as she looked around. “You can sleep in my room, I’ll use the couch tonight. Guests do get the best treatment after all.” “No I call the couch. You get the bed,” Somnambula answered as I levitated a pillow out of the closet. “I can sleep on the floor if necessary. Where you sleep, I sleep. I can’t just throw you out of your own room so if you’re sleeping out here, so am I.” “Okay, you win. Bed it is.” And I thought Applejack was stubborn. She didn’t hold a candle to Somnambula at certain times.